RC racers reflect on successful season

By Greg Hunt
Special to the Post Review
Itís been a few weekends since the last radar run was held, pitting snowmobilers against the radar gun and against fellow drivers. For those seriously into the sport, the spring and summer seasons are time to retool and set new goals.
And so it goes for the R & R Racing team, headquartered out of Rick and Robin Schellbachís spread north of Rush City. A recent day had the shop loaded with trophies from the 2003 season for a photo session with the teamís machines. Rick won 28-of-32 races he was entered in 2003 as the ìShark,î the teamís 1100 Open Mod with its sleek new hood design, starred at several venues.
ìWe brought home a lot of trophies. All in all, weíve had a successful season,î said Schellbach. ìNow weíre piecing together new ideas throughout the summer to be ready for the next season, so when winter comes we will be the fastest people on ice, in our classes,î said Schellbach.
This past winter, Rick and Robinís daughter, Tomi, raced her first year to extend the racing genes into the second generation. She hit 96.4 mph on her trail sled, and Tomi likes to make as many runs as possible at the races she attends. Daughters Taylor and Taniel also have raced in the KittyKat division.
Wayde Sward, who works as a mechanic for the team, has his daughter, Laura Birkaker, driving in both the stock and open mods. Thereís machine owner Joel Marohn who also drives in the mini mod class, and Roger Marohn lends crew support. Also making up the team are drivers DeJay Lemon (stock/open mods), Kyle Yager (stock/open mods), Jeff Wagner (open mods) and paint/graphics specialist Nick Anderson.
Thereís ëa need for speedí and just plain a lot of fun gathering on winter weekends which keeps the teamís members coming back each year. ìAll of us went from riding bigger trail sleds to come to this level a long time ago,î said Sward. ìAmongst our group, we didnít want to do trail riding anymore, especially with the years of little or no snow. But the fact that this gets the whole group together and gives us something to do. Itís a good time, and we work good together.î
ìThe technology challenges are also there, working with all facets of the machines to keep us running as the fastest with our realized budget,î added Schellbach.
The goal for next season is to cover the full scale of mod sleds classes. The seven open classes run from the 340 Vintage size and 440 Open Mod to 1100 Open Mod. New for the year will be an entrant in the Lake Racer division where a stock chassis is paired with an unlimited motor size.
Sponsors through the years are Competition Sports, DKV Landfill, Majestics Transports, North Branch NAPA and Perryís Auto Salon. R & R Racing is on the search for more sponsors to continue the expansion. Interested sponsors can contact Rick at 320-358-4856.
ìWe have a whole another trailer for our billboard for more sponsors,î exclaimed Sward.
While there is plenty of competition among those who fly across the ice on their machines, thereís nothing wrong with giving the other fellow a hand, as well.
ìThey come looking for parts or advice or whatnot. Weíre in an out of the trailer all weekend,î said Sward.
ìWe definitely open our doors. When somebody needs a spring or something, if we got it, our doors are open,î said Schellbach. ìI borrowed a drive chain to a guy up at Breezy Point, and he actually beat me. So I guess weíre a pretty well-liked team out there; yes, they hate to see us coming because they know weíre coming to kick butt.î
This past season began on the weekend after New Yearís to March 10, held at Forest Lake. Radar races are held every weekend somewhere. The fastest speed for the year was a 159.2 mph by the 1100 on Rush Lake. The Battle of the Bay raceís ìFastest Speed of the Dayî was also won by R & R with a 158.7.
ìOne of our objectives is to get into the 160s for the 2003 season, and we feel confident we will get there,î said Schellbach.

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